Verizon Seeks Waiver of Tracfone Device Unlocking
Verizon asked the FCC for a waiver of its handset unlocking requirement for devices on the Tracfone network, after it completes a buy of the prepaid provider. “Wireless providers face a significant risk that opportunists will acquire heavily discounted devices…
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Timely, relevant coverage of court proceedings and agency rulings involving tariffs, classification, valuation, origin and antidumping and countervailing duties. Each day, Trade Law Daily subscribers receive a daily headline email, in-depth PDF edition and access to all relevant documents via our trade law source document library and website.
and sell them or take them elsewhere, diverting subsidies intended to help customers obtain wireless service,” Verizon said in a filing posted Thursday in docket 21-112. Under rules for the 700 MHz C block Verizon bought in the 2008 auction, it’s subject to unique “open platform” requirements, including a limited ability to lock devices, the carrier said. “Since 2019, Verizon has operated under a waiver that allows Verizon to apply a 60-day lock to devices that include the 700 MHz C Block frequencies,” it said: “Verizon automatically unlocks the device at the conclusion of the 60-day period, absent evidence of fraud.” The problem is “some TracFone devices are not capable of unlocking automatically, and Verizon will need some temporary relief from the automatic unlocking commitment for those devices.”